| One of the hardest parts of being a parent is | | | | becomes hyperglycemic, treatment by medical |
| coping with the reality that your children could | | | | professionals is called for. |
| become ill. And, one illness that is showing up | | | | A child suffering from high blood sugar may show |
| more often in children is diabetes. | | | | signs of extreme thirst, weakness, frequent |
| When a parent learns that their child has diabetes, | | | | urination, blurry vision and little or no appetite. |
| one of their first reactions is to want to know | | | | In the case of hypoglycemia, or low blood sugar, |
| everything about the disease, including the | | | | the symptoms tend to vary from child to child. |
| symptoms, side effects and treatment options. | | | | Most experience some combination of headaches, |
| Taking care of the diabetic child also requires | | | | mood swings, extreme hunger, sweating, |
| others to be educated as well. Teachers or day | | | | trembling, a tingling around the mouth and some |
| care personnel, grandparents, or anyone who | | | | degree of clumsiness. |
| provides care for the child must understand the | | | | At this point, the child should ingest something |
| nutritional requirements, medication needs and | | | | containing sugar like a soft drink, fruit juice or |
| monitoring of blood sugar to insure the child's | | | | glucose pills. When the child is feeling more normal, |
| safety. | | | | they should then be given solid food. However, in |
| Children are inclined to have type I diabetes, | | | | some cases the hypoglycemia becomes severe, |
| formerly called juvenile diabetes. However, children | | | | and the child is too weak to ingest liquids or solid |
| are increasingly being diagnosed with type 2 | | | | food or is unconscious. At this point, an injection |
| diabetes too. Type I diabetes occurs when the | | | | of the suggested dose of glucagon (a medication |
| pancreas stops making insulin which is necessary | | | | prescribed to quickly increase the amount of |
| to assist in breaking down sugars (glucose) in our | | | | glucose in the blood), is typically recommended. |
| body to help it work with efficiency. When this | | | | Proper diet plays a key role in maintaining the |
| breakdown of sugars fails to occur, as with type I | | | | health of the diabetic child. Caregivers are |
| diabetes, the sugar remains in the blood. | | | | responsible for ensuring that the child eats |
| Insulin is crucial in breaking down sugars in the | | | | properly. It must be impressed upon them that |
| body to utilize for energy. It must be taken to | | | | eating too many sweets can make the child very |
| control diabetes. Thus type I diabetes is also | | | | ill. They must also understand that the child must |
| referred to as insulin-dependent diabetes. Physical | | | | ear regular, portion controlled meals and may |
| exercise and dieting are likewise crucial in assisting | | | | need a snack occasionally to maintain proper blood |
| to contain this form of the disease. Providing care | | | | sugar. |
| for the child with diabetes entails recognizing the | | | | Adequate exercise is important to the diabetic |
| signs and any ensuing responses that may come | | | | child. They can take part in all regular, physical |
| about. | | | | activities when they abide by two essential rules: |
| The primary signs of diabetes in children are | | | | They must refrain from playing just prior to |
| seizures, incessant hunger, fast heart rate, | | | | eating and have a snack available so that they |
| persistant headaches, tiredness, feeling | | | | may supplant lost sugar. Exercise burns sugar and |
| lightheaded, trouble concentrating and blurry vision. | | | | depletes energy, so the sweet snack will be |
| They may also exibit cold and damp skin, and | | | | needed to balance sugar levels. |
| breath with an unusual odor. | | | | Above all, the child must be educated about their |
| You must then be able to determine when the | | | | illness. Children with diabetes must be taught how |
| child is in crisis mode, and what your response | | | | to monitor their blood sugar and what they must |
| should be when the child is enduring either a | | | | eat in order to control it and stay healthy. |
| hypoglycemic or hyperglycemic episode. | | | | While the diabetic child must be watched closely, |
| Hyperglycemia happens when the blood sugar | | | | the child and all of those involved with his or her |
| levels are too high. Climbing sugar levels are | | | | care will soon find that their lives seem normal |
| commonly a consequence of overeating, not | | | | again. We all have to make adjustments as we |
| getting the proper quantity of insulin, or not | | | | go through life and learning to live with diabetes is |
| getting enough physical exercise. Once a child | | | | just another one. |